VINCENT
“Well, that was awkward,” the flirty blonde says, twirling her hair as she blinks up at me. “I’m glad it’s just us now though.”
She takes a step closer to me, but I hold my hand up to stop her. The woman pouts, a look that is unbecoming and rather annoying. In fact, everything about her makes me want to recoil. She’s as fake as they come, and I know she wouldn’t have lasted one day as my assistant. I’m not looking to hire her on now.
“Thank you for informing me of the job mishap,” I say, clearing my throat.
“Like I said, we both were played. I’ll go ahead and take the rest of the week off to care for my father, then I’ll officially start on Monday?”
“I thought it was your mother who was unwell.”
“Oh. Right, yes, well, they both need caring for these days,” she responds, darting her eyes down to her purse and then over to the side, focusing on anything but me. “I may need a few afternoons off next week to take Mother for her MRI.”
“She needs an MRI for a broken leg?” It’s clear Jennifer is a shit liar, and I’ve had enough of liars for the foreseeable future. Before the frustrating woman can say anything else, I throw the door of my office open and gesture for her to leave. “The position is no longer available. You may see yourself out.”
Her jaw drops, and she stares at me in shock. Then, her face twists into an ugly, entitled sneer. “Is that it?”
“Send my well wishes to your father. Or was it your mother? For her head injury. Or, sorry, broken leg.”
She knows I’m not buying her bullshit. The woman swings her thousand-dollar purse over her shoulder and lifts her chin up high. She’s about to tell me something bratty, but I cut her off.
“Out.”
No sooner have her six-inch stiletto heels crossed the threshold than I’m slamming the door shut. Deflating against the wall, I comb my fingers through my hair, tugging at the strands until my scalp stings.
I try swallowing, but something is stuck in my throat. Jesus, I choke out a cough and wipe moisture from my eyes. What is wrong with me?
Pushing myself away from the door, I stride across my office and slam my fist down on my desk. The heavy wooden surface creaks under the pressure, but I don’t feel any pain. I should be furious. I should sue Juniper for every cent she’s wrongfully taken from me under the guise of my assistant. I should call my best lawyer and have him drag her through the wringer.
Instead, I dig the heel of my hand into my chest, hoping to alleviate the tight ball of pressure forming over my heart. I wipe away more wetness from my eyes, still not sure what is happening to my body. Surely these aren’t tears. I don’t cry. Not for anyone or anything. Certainly not for the woman who made me believe in fairy tales only to betray me in the end.
Then why can’t I breathe? The thought of going up to my penthouse alone, without my angel, twists something deep inside me. Pain sears through my lungs and heart, rattling me to my bones. I slump into my office chair, trying to gain some control of my body and emotions.
My eyes land on the note Juniper wrote to me a few days ago.
Work harder. Just kidding. I was trying reverse psychology. Did it work?
Why would she write this if all she wanted was a job? She didn’t have to go out of her way to get me dinner or try to make me smile, yet everything Juniper has done in her time here has been to make my life easier. Even when she’s sassing me.
I pick up the note, holding it between my thumb and forefinger and lifting it up to my nose. Like the crazy person I’ve become, I sniff the paper, hoping to catch some of her sunshiney scent.
Her words from earlier come back to me.What we have is real… I didn’t plan on falling for you.
“Bullshit,” I growl, pounding a balled-up fist against my chest. She was lying. She had to be. I don’t understand people and their complicated motives. Why can’t relationships be like a formula? I can find all the right pieces, plug them into the equation, and come up with a solution. Real life is much messier, and I don’t know how to handle that. I don’t know how to handle these chaotic feelings.
All I know is that Juniper brought me peace. She crawled under my defenses and set up camp somewhere close to my heart. And then she ripped it out with her betrayal.
I grunt and stand up, not sure what my plan is, just knowing I need to leave. Everything in this room reminds me of Juniper, of how stupid I was to fall for her charms.
I storm out of my office, taking one look toward the elevator bank, where Jennifer is typing away on her phone and waiting for a ride down to the parking garage. Spinning on my heel, I turn in the opposite direction, making my way to the stairwell instead. It will be good to get some of this restless energy out.
Halfway down the second flight of stairs, I pause when I hear a muffled sound coming from further down. Cautiously, I take a few more steps until a quiet sob fills the stairwell, followed by a miserable sniffle.
Juniper?
Christ, is she hurt? Was she so upset she fell down the stairs? Fuck, if anything happened to her…
I leap down the stairs three at a time, hitting the landing with a thud.